In June 2007 I facilitated a meeting with local sector leaders asking the question, “Is now the time to come together to meet the physical and spiritual needs in our community?”  (I recognize it is a rather dumb and obvious question.  When is it not appropriate to unite in meeting needs?)  It was during this meeting that I first learned of the child slavery that is rampant in my own neighborhood, city and country.  In the midst of our meeting a question was raised that continues to haunt my thoughts, “Where are God’s people?”  It is a question that rings true in our world – “Where are God’s people?”  In our nation – “Where are God’s people?”  In our own communities – “Where are God’s people?”  My dream is that we would answer this question so emphatically that it begins changing the cultural view of the church!

Last week I was interviewed with one of our vice officers regarding the collaborative efforts focused on combating child sex slavery.  During the interview the officer was asked, “In your 25+ years of service have you ever witnessed churches rallying around a cause like this and what has it done for those of you on the front lines?”  The officer smiled, laughed and replied, “No, I have not seen anything like this and it has given us hope – but I am waiting for it to end.”  Those words stung me and motivate me.  I don’t want people believing we will rally to a cause, stir up some dust, and move on.  For too long the church in the west has been known primarily for their passionate work on the other side of the sea.  Do not misinterpret my words – I rejoice for all that has been accomplished around the world.  I understand that there is so much more to do and recognize it is our MANDATE to go to the “ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).  But let us not forget our own “Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria”!  We need a GLOCAL vision that lavishes compassion, mercy, hope, and justice both locally and globally!

May we never lose sight of the tremendous needs across the ocean!  However, as my brother scribed so eloquently in his poem below, we have too often turned away from those across the street on our way across the sea.  It is not an “either/or” but a “both/and” – a GLOCAL vision incorporating those next door and those in another land and culture.  My brother’s poem hangs in my office as a powerful reminder of the need in our own backyard:

This Time In Between

“This time in Between

After my birth

And before my death

This time on your side of the sea.

What will you do, Christian?

Will you feed me and defend me?

What if I live across the street, not across the sea?

What if I have taken and beaten and used?

Will you lift me up and rescue me?

Or only those across the sea

.

This time in Between

After my birth

And before my death

This time on your side of the sea.

What will you do, Christian?

Will you shelter me and give me new sight to see?

What if I am dirty and full of disease?

And my sin is here and not across the sea.

This time in Between

After my birth

And before my death

This time on your side of the sea.

What will you do, Christian?

I’m right here in your way

To your work across the sea.

Is your only tragedy across the sea?

I’m right here in your way

To your work across the sea.

Please listen, Christian.

Is my rape less violent?

My hunger less painful?

Is my ravaged, addicted body

My suffering soul

Worth less than those across the sea?

This time in Between

After my birth

And before my death

This time on your side of the sea.

Please tell me

What will you do, Christian?

I’m right here in your way

To your work across the sea.

There is a subtle myth that slavery was vanquished in the 19^th century.  In reality it hasn’t been defeated and there are more slaves today than any other time of human history.  In fact, everyday, there are thousands of slaves across the United States.  Thousands brought in and sold for sex and labor.  In my years on this globe I have witnessed and/or read about numerous horrific events; however, I cannot fathom that humanity has created a crime more heinous than enslaving children in a system of rape for profit.

Sadly, there is an astonishing, well organized network of criminals victimizing women and children every day.  I have wondered why we, those fighting for justice, are unable to network with similar ferocity.  Why do criminals have structured systems and networks reaping havoc, while we continue creating “solutions” and systems that remain autonomous of one another?  Why can we not network?  What if different sectors of society could begin working together to break the chains of modern day slavery?  What if churches could unite and lead the charge against this heinous injustice?  What if a duplicable model of collaboration developed that became an example to other cities in our nation and around the world of the enormous potential when government and market place leaders, young people, churches, and thousands of modern day abolitionists wrestled, fought, and prayed against child sex slavery?  What if….

Over 40 years ago Martin Luther King Jr. painted a poignant vision with his “I have a dream” monologue.  What if today, in our continued struggle against slavery, we carried on his dream of abolishing slavery and created a UNITED effort working together to bring justice?  What if…

What if…

Go to www.brandedphx.com for more information about modern day abolitionists!

Throughout my life countless elderly people have wisely recounted how quickly time passes.  These advisors of wisdom have consistently persuaded me to enjoy my children before they leave home.  In a sense those with decades of time behind them have recognized the importance of “living in the moment”.  As my time on this earth draws closer to 40 years my awareness amplifies the wisdom of enjoying each moment.  I certainly do not feel like I have wasted my life nor do I glance back with regrets; rather, I clutch heaps of memories that crease my face with a smile.  While some of these recollections bring sadness, as they are bygone days, I also realize the importance of consistently establishing fresh memories that I will one day reminisce with joy.

Bon Jovi fell on an element of truth.  In one of the artist’s recent songs he bellows, “…there will come a day you’ll have to say hello to goodbye…live before we die…”  True indeed that part of life is consistently saying “hello to goodbye” creating the necessity that each of us opt to “live before we die”. 

In short – keep making memories!

Our family will affectionately recall this past October’s events.  We enthusiastically pulled our dilapidated wagon to a nearby pumpkin patch and purchased our jack-o-lanterns, carved the orange gourds, and eventually collected loads of sugar laden sweets on the warm evening of the 31^st.  Perhaps our most vivid memory from this year’s October celebration will be Josiah and Kyle’s response to the excessive compliments Ashley received for her “home-made jellyfish” costume.  Following the initial set of houses we all heard countless comments directed to Ashley – “That is the best costume we have ever seen”, “how adorable”, or “what a wonderful idea”.  Eventually our sons approached Shar and me, mimicking, with high pitched voices and rolled eyes, the plethora of compliments.  The boys vowed to rip off the jelly-fish’s tentacles with the next “Oh, what a charming costume!”  Obviously my wife and I forbid our overzealous sons from their tactics of destruction and finished the evening with an abundance of sweet memories.

“If 5 birds are perched on a dock and one of them decides to fly away how many birds are left sitting on the pier?” I posed this question to my 3 children this morning.  Apparently they know me too well as each recognized I was  “setting them up”.  The answer, of course, is “5” – Deciding to do something and actually doing it are two very different things. 

A self-help guru cleverly asserted, “…In life, lots of people know what to do, but few people actually do what they know.  Knowing is not enough!  You must take action.  A real decision is measured by the fact that you’ve taken a new action.  If there’s no action, you haven’t truly decided.”  True indeed.  Most often our faith in God is expressed through our activity – Noah built the ark, Abram left Ur, Moses returned to Egypt, Joshua marched around the walls, and the disciples left everything and followed Jesus.  Their actions displayed their faith.  Not only did they decide to do what God was telling them; they did it!

Somewhere I read, “The first step of courage is summoning up the will to change.  The second step is putting that intent into behavior.”  Winston Churchill would certainly affirm this idea.  The late Prime Minister once declared, “I never worry about action, but only inaction.” 

Consequently there is absolutely no power in intention.  Truly, there is no difference between the person who speaks about doing something and never does it and the individual who never even contemplated doing it in the first place.  Indeed its not what you know; its what you do!

Mark Linfiel, Director of Planet Earth, stated, “There is no way that everything is going to work out all of the time, and if it does you are not trying things difficult enough.”  Certainly most of us nod with affirmation reading Mark’s insights.  However, if we assert the value in taking risks why is there an incessant avoidance of “walking the edge” with creative, innovative ideas?  Why do we not celebrate the lives of those willing to try something a little crazy?  Why are we always taming ideas?

My growing supposition is that our aversion toward innovation often relates to our self-conscious fear of failure.  Over time many institutions and organizations, birthed from an inventive ideology, develop necessary formulas and systems that eventually inhibit the very creativity that launched them.  Therefore, many organizations and ministries no longer trust the entrepreneur; they now trust the system.  Richard Watson recently posted an informative blog regarding innovation.  He shares, “Rules are precisely what innovators and other paradigm shifters break.  For example, 50% of all new pharmaceutical products launched in the U.S. a few years ago came from companies that were less than ten years old.”  Watson correctly asserts that children learn best as they touch and manipulate their world.  Their curiosity allows them the freedom to “make mistakes”.  Yet, so often the moment they enter formal education they are immediately taught that making mistakes is bad.

My point about failure is simply that it is a reality for all of us.  It is not “if” you will fail, but “when” you will fail.  One of our core problems is that we hide from this reality rather than embrace it.  I am certainly not encouraging failure, but instead motivating others to live lives that are so passionate and creative that, along with the unavoidable “bumps and bruises”, comes cutting edge, innovation.

“Fail Fast” is a principle Marc Kyle, my current boss, has instilled in his department (He probably wishes he had not shared this concept as I have taken the liberty to “fail fast” again and again!).  His leadership has created a climate of creativity and innovation that is often lost in established organizations and churches.  I believe Marc’s philosophy of leadership is based on the combination of his deep understanding of the Gospel and a realization that any institution that refuses exploration of new ideas is on a death march. 

Richard Watson concludes his blog entry with this inspiring thought:

“The point about failure is not that it happens but what we do when it happens. Most people flee…Does this mean you abandon your failures? Yes and no. Your idea could be right but your timing, delivery, or execution could be wrong. Who could have guessed, for instance, that the one-time AIDS wonder drug AZT had been a failed treatment for cancer or that Viagra was a failed heart medication that Pfizer stopped studying in 1992?  There’s a great quote by the English sculptor Henry Moore that sums this up pretty well: “The secret of life is to have a task, something you bring everything to, every minute of the day for your whole life. And the most important thing is: it must be something you cannot possibly do.”

God created us in His image as inventors and innovators – don’t run from that audacious idea, and if you fail, get back up and keep going.  My suspicion is that a few of us are part of organizations, families, or churches that are ripe for “walking on the edge”!   

I have come to realize we are a society obsessed with buts (No, I did not misspell the word).  It has become apparent that many of us require a refresher course in “Encouragement 101” to develop a basic knowledge toward extending compliments.  Why is it that few people can distribute an accolade without a “but” in it?  Why is it that most of us recognize phrases as, “You did a wonderful job” or “You played a great game” are consistently followed by “but”, which, consequently, obliterates the compliment.

Some time ago I was privy to read an annual review intended for a local pastor.  By the end of the three plus pages I felt the elder board should begin preparations for talking their pastor off the side of some building.  I recognized the intention was to “make him a better leader” via their advice and evaluation.  However, I can assure you those well meant intentions fell on deaf, discouraged ears.  The pages of this particular review were littered with “buts”, “however”, and “yet”.  Out of curiosity I began highlighting the report with 3 separate colors.  Yellow indicated a compliment, green designated a neutral comment, and red identified their analysis for improvement.  Guess what color filled the pages?  In fact, for every one compliment extended to this leader over five critiques followed. 

I recognize there is danger in becoming reliant on other people’s praise.  One writer quipped, “Our dependency makes slaves out of us, especially if this dependency is a dependency of our self-esteem.  If you need encouragement, praise, pats on the back from everybody, then you make everybody your judge.”  Certainly there are elements of truth in this quote; however, even Scripture identifies the importance of extolling admiration:

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” I Thessalonians 5:11

“But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” Hebrews 13:5

“A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.” Proverbs 25:11

“…but a kind word cheers him up.” Proverbs 12:25

“Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing” Proverbs 12:18

“Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” Proverbs 16:24

Mark Twain’s tongue in cheek supposition, “I can live for two months on a good compliment”, holds great value.  Abraham Lincoln, a man that survived a majority of his years bombarded with scathing critiques, simply stated, “Everybody likes a compliment”.  Lincoln’s words are straightforward and true – Everybody, without exception, wants and needs encouragement.  Author William Ward wrote, “Flatter me, and I may not believe you.  Criticize me, and I may not like you.  Ignore me, and I may not forgive you.  Encourage me, and I will not forget you…”

How motivating and liberating to receive heart-felt encouragement with “no strings attached”.  Let’s lose our obsession with “buts” and extend words King Solomon observed as “sweet to the soul and healing to the bones”!

Below is an excerpt from Norman Maclean’s Young Men and Fire, the story of the Mann Gulch Tragedy.  On August 5, 1949 a crew of 15 of the United States Forest Service’s elite airborne firefighters, the smokejumpers, stepped into the sky above a remote forest fire in the Montana wilderness.  Less than an hour after their jump, all but three of these men were dead or mortally burned.  The disastrous story is essentially defined by 15 young men caught in a fire “blow-up” and running for their lives.  At one point the crew leader, Dodge, made a desperate decision to spark a backfire, run to the middle of the burn-out, lie face down and allow the enormous inferno to blow over him.  He ordered his crew to follow.  Instead they ignored his orders and attempted to scamper the remaining 200 yards to the ridge of the mountain – all but two died.  In the end Dodge’s wild and dangerous idea would have saved his crew, but as with many innovative thoughts his was rejected with tragic results. 

The quote below is Maclean’s description of Dodge’s desperate, pioneering inspiration. 

 “…Perhaps, though, his biggest invention was not burn a hole in the fire but to lie down in it.  Perhaps all he could patent about his invention was the courage to lie down in his fire.  Like a lot of inventions, it could be crazy and consume the inventor.  His invention, taking as much guts as logic, suffered the immediate fate of many other inventions – it was thought to be crazy by those who first saw it.  Somebody said, ‘To hell with that,’ and they kept going, most of them to their deaths.” 

Interestingly, Dodge’s desperate and innovative thinking is now common training for these distressed situations.  In the end, it displays the value of the entrepreneurial spirit.   Someone once said, “You can always tame an idea, but you cannot pump one up.  Wild ideas indicate creative thinking.”  THINK BIG!!!

Note:  The following explanation was taken from Chris Maddox’s blog.  As you will notice he is an excellent photographer - click here to check out his site and photography. 

More pictures of golf marathon under “family moments” and “wanderings”! 

“On Monday, after returning from the weekend in Mexico with Love God Love People, I woke up early to make it to Ancala golf course at 6 a.m.  The course was the location for the 1st Annual City Initiatives Golf Marathon with proceeds benefiting the Phoenix based City Initiatives program within Food for the Hungry.  I will be posting more on what/who City Initiatives is in the upcoming weeks, but it is worth noting that I am currently working with Pat McCalla, the director of City Initiatives, on a vision that would unite both City Initiatives and Love God Love People. To fully unfold this vision I’ll need more time, but essentially City Initiatives is in existence with a goal of uniting various sectors of Phoenix (Government, Educational Institutes, Youth, Churches and the Marketplace) with the vision of actually solving a problem. The first problem that this initiative has tackled has turned into a case study for what future initiatives will look like, that issue is underage sex trafficking in Phoenix. It is an unbelievably dark issue, and one that is not being allowed to stay out of site. City Initiatives and their many partnerships have instigated a movement against child sex slavery in Phoenix, “Branded”. This movement is named after a documentary which came out of this project and shares the same name.  I would encourage you to learn more by clicking here and visiting the Branded website.

The event was a great time of both celebration for what has already been achieved, and what still needs to be done. If you would like to contribute to the Branded cause or learn more click here.” -Chris Maddox

On a side note- the pictures behind me are images from the new Street Light safe house. It was born out of the Branded movement and will provide a tangible solution to assisting in the rehabilitation and restoration of these young victims.

Last week I had the unique experience of being interviewed, along with a former prostitute and two ex-strippers, by Group Publishers.  Prior to the interview these women shared their amazing journey to faith and restoration.  Among the many words and stories that caught my attention, the most prominent was a component of one woman’s conversion experience. 

Kimberly was returning home from another night of stripping.  For nearly two decades Kim had unsuccessfully convinced herself to end her employment as a stripper; however, this night was different.  After 18 years in the industry she wearily vowed, “Never again will I degrade myself this way”.  Driving home Kimberly began listening to a CD about finding and fulfilling your destiny.  (This story alone should cause a smile to crease your face.  Imagine the scene – a woman pulling away from a night of dancing naked in front of strangers now listening to a message concerning God’s heart to discover her glorious, fulfilling destiny!)  At one point in the message the speaker declared, “The devil wants you to compromise one more time…”  Those words were Kimberly’s change agent; the tipping point for her.  Kim told us, “At this point I clearly heard God speak to me…”

 Frankly I did not pay attention to the next portion of Kim’s story.  I was incapable of shaking the question shouting in my head, “Does God really speak to strippers?” Will the holy, all-powerful, all-knowing Creator and Sustainer of this Universe talk to women who make their living dancing nude for strangers?  The answer to this question contains one of the supreme, freeing truths known to humanity.  Absolutely, God speaks to strippers!  The Gospel exclaims Jesus came “to seek and to save that which was lost”.  In Matthew 9 the religious leaders accused Jesus of soiling his reputation by the company he kept – “What kind of example is this from your Teacher, acting cozy with crooks and riff-raff?”  Jesus overhearing shot back, “Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick?  Go figure out what this Scripture means: ‘I’m after mercy not religion.’ I’m here to invite outsiders, not coddle insiders.”

Rejoice and revel in this radical, amazing truth that “God speaks to strippers” because, consequently, it is why He speaks to you and I!!!

For more information on the fight to eradicate child sex slavery visit www.brandedphx.com

In 2005 City Initiatives was launched with the vision of Phoenix becoming an example to other cities in our nation and around the world of the enormous potential when churches, city leaders, young people, faith based and non-profit organizations work together in meeting physical and spiritual needs.  Our objectives were to be used by God in connecting people, ideas and tools, form multi-sector collaborations, and influence the influencers.  Two years ago we began asking the question, “What if we facilitated a collaborative effort that actually solved a problem?”  Our belief was that one of our greatest testimonies to society would be a unified, loving effort that not only talked about issues of poverty but helped solve one.  Listed below are a few exciting examples how God has used City Initiatives these past months in advancing this vision:

Advocating and Speaking Out

• City Initiatives has directly reached 10,065 individuals via speaking in churches, colleges, and seminar events

Facilitating the collaborative effort to eradicate child sex slavery in Phoenix through ‘branded’ and our partner ‘streetlight’ – www.brandedphx.com

• Partnerships including 30+ churches, County and City Attorney’s office, Vice-Officers, 4-5 local non-profits and 1000’s of individuals
• 15 Branded Screenings to 2,500+ individuals
• 3,000+ Branded DVD’s sold or given away
• As of September 16^th viral marketing for Branded includes 400+ followers on twitter and 6,881 on facebook with an average growth of 100 per day